§ 13. Mr. PILCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what precautionary measures, if any, are being taken for the preservation of law and order in India, in view of the new scheme for the organisation of volunteers throughout India and house-to-house collection of foreign-made cloth in towns and villages and its destruction in bonfires?
§ Earl WINTERTONMy Noble Friend thinks that it is not in the public interest to announce beforehand the exact steps that the authorities have in mind for dealing with possible disturbances.
§ Mr. PILCHERIs my Noble Friend bearing in mind the fact that the last time this organisation was put into operation several thousand deaths resulted?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, sir; my Noble Friend is fully aware of the evil consequences which followed from a previous organisation of the kind referred to, and for that reason, as I have told my hon. Friend, it is not considered desirable to announce what steps the Government are taking.